McIntyre defends Asia trip, Jones pushes for transparency

By MOLLY PARKER - Wilmington StarNews

Published: Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 01:19 PM.

Jones, a Republican representing the 3rd District, did not take any trips during the time period analyzed.

Jones’ spokeswoman, Catherine Fodor, said Jones does not oppose overseas travel, but “he does feel like members of Congress should fly commercial like everyone else, unless it’s to get into a war zone or to visit the troops.

“He does not think the military should be used as an overseas VIP travel service at the taxpayers’ expense,” Fodor said in a statement. “If members of Congress disagree, Congressman Jones feels that they should at least let the taxpayers know how much it’s costing them.”

She said Jones has introduced a bill, House Resolution 1359, to bring transparency to the costs of taxpayer-funded overseas travel by members of Congress.

“Currently there is no transparency on the costs of congressional delegation trips taken using military aircraft,” she said.

The measure would direct the Department of Defense to determine the cost of transporting House and Senate members of each foreign congressional delegation trip, and to report costs to the public on its website. The exception to the reporting requirement would be trips for
U.S.
military installations on foreign soil and visits to
U.S.
military personnel in a war zone, as valid security reasons may exist for not disclosing the cost of such trips, Fodor said.

Congressional travel in tight budget times has come under scrutiny, but U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre defended his May 2012 trip to Asia as important congressional business while U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is pushing for more transparency about the costs of congressional travel.

McIntyre, a Democrat representing the 7th District, is a senior member of both the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees.

“Congressman McIntyre traveled to Asia to discuss a host of military, national security and agriculture issues,” said Dean Mitchell, the congressman’s chief of staff, in an emailed response.

Mitchell said McIntyre, a Democrat, met with “our men and women in uniform, conferred with our military leaders and others involved in national security issues, as well as promoted U.S. agriculture interests in separate meetings.”

McIntyre took a seven-day trip beginning May 20, 2012. He visited China, Germany, India and South Korea.

Mitchell said McIntyre visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which is a key U.S. national security issue.

“The issue of American troop presence in Korea and the Pacific Rim countries has been a key issue for U.S. national security interests, especially with North Korea and China challenging U.S. security and business interests in the region,” Mitchell said.

Jones, a Republican representing the 3rd District, did not take any trips during the time period analyzed.

Jones’ spokeswoman, Catherine Fodor, said Jones does not oppose overseas travel, but “he does feel like members of Congress should fly commercial like everyone else, unless it’s to get into a war zone or to visit the troops.

“He does not think the military should be used as an overseas VIP travel service at the taxpayers’ expense,” Fodor said in a statement. “If members of Congress disagree, Congressman Jones feels that they should at least let the taxpayers know how much it’s costing them.”

She said Jones has introduced a bill, House Resolution 1359, to bring transparency to the costs of taxpayer-funded overseas travel by members of Congress.

“Currently there is no transparency on the costs of congressional delegation trips taken using military aircraft,” she said.

The measure would direct the Department of Defense to determine the cost of transporting House and Senate members of each foreign congressional delegation trip, and to report costs to the public on its website. The exception to the reporting requirement would be trips for U.S. military installations on foreign soil and visits to U.S. military personnel in a war zone, as valid security reasons may exist for not disclosing the cost of such trips, Fodor said.